Floor cleaning machine



Um. W, 1950 E. T. PLATZ 2,524,928

FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1946 ZFSheetS-ShGGt 1 INVENTOR. .zwmb r F105 Mg. 4 BY E. T. PLATZ FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE 0st,. E0, 195w 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1946 INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 10, 1950 moon CLEANING MACHINE ElwoodT.Platz,Detroit, k i r f Application Apr-il 12,; 1946, Serial meanest 3Glaims. l.15- h This application discloses a surface cleaning machine, optionally useful for vacuum cleaning or washing or scrubbing or'polishing a surface.

An embodiment of such machines is disclose in the appended drawings.

In these drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of machine.

Fig. 2 is a top view of a part thereof, removed from the machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the machine with part removed for purposes of clarity.

Fig. 5 is a view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, with part removed for purposes of clarity.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial view along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial view along lines 1-1 of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 is a section view along line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

The machine shown in Figs. 1 to 8 comprises a side housing H], a base II, and a removable cover |-2 combining to form an enclosure or casing with a nozzle-like opening l3 in the bottom between the edges |4-|4a of the side housing and the base. Otherwise, the enclosure is substantially air tight.

An electric motor I5 is secured to an upwardly bent portion of the right hand end of the base A multi-stage air compressor I6 is directly connected to and driven by this motor. Grooved pulleys I1 and I8 are mounted on and driven by an extension IQ of the drive shaft'of the motor.

A pulley 2|), having a groove 2| of relatively small diameter and a groove 22 of relatively large diameter, is journaled on the stationary shaft 23 which is rigidly held in a fixed position by the-lug 24 of the air compressor and by the lug 25 of the motor. A similar pulley 26 with grooves 21 and 2B is also journaled on the shaft 23. This arrangement of pulleys is clearly shown in Fig. 8. The groove 21 of pulley 26 is tightly fitted with a tire-like pliable rim 29 of circular cross section. This rim frictionally engages the motor pulley I8, thereby causing the pulley 26 to be rotated in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the motor. The endless belt 30, fitting the grooves of pulleys 20 and I1, rotates the pulley are riveted to a cross member 33, as shown en-' larged in Fig. 6. Similarly, two pulleys 32a are journaled on another set of studs 32b which are riveted to the base near its edge |4a.

An endless belt 34 having brushes 35projecting therefrom at suitable intervals is carried by the pulleys 3| and driven by the pulley 2|. A

similar endless belt 36, but slightly shorter,v-is.-

carried by' the pul1eys32c and is driven by the pulley 28; belt 36 has brushes 31. The brushes 35-31 project from the belts at such an angle and the pulleys 3| and32a are so located that the brushes engage the floor or carpet between the edges |4-|4a, which as previously mentioned,

form a nozzle-like opening |3 in the bottomof the machine.

The multi-stage compressor 5 is the convene tional type having several impellers or stages.

Air is drawn in through the inlet pipe 31a and 1 partially discharged from the first stage through theoutlet port 38. The outlet port 38 is suitaby bailled so that a portion of the air from the first stage enters the subsequent stages and is (ischarged from the compressor at-a high pressure through the high pressure tube 39. i The base II is formed upward in .a step-up manner near its center to provide a tunnel-like opening for a fluid tank 49 to be described later. The raised surface 4| of the base thus formed has openings at 42 and 43 to comm unicate withthe tubes 31a and 44, which are secured by their respectiveflanges 45 and 46 to this upper surface 4| of the base Surface 4| of the base also has an opening 41 communicating with the valve 48 which is likewise secured to the upper surface 4| by its flange 49.

The. tank 40 has a cleaning fluid compartment 50 and an air washing or filtering fluid compartment 5| as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The top surface 52 of the tank has openings 53-54-55 inline with the openings 43-42 and 41 in the base, and an opening 56 for filling thecleaning fluid compartment. The opening 54 thus communicates with the inlet tube 31 and-can also be A gasket 59, glued or otherwise secured to the V underside of the surface 4|, has holes corresponding to the holes 42, 43 and 41 in the surface 4|. A clamp on each side of the machine holds the tank 40 snugly up against the gasket 59 with air tight connection between the aforementioned openings 42-43-41 in the surface 4| and the corresponding openings 54-53-55 in the tank 40. The clamps 60 also permit easy removal of the tank for filling and draining the fluid.

Referring to Fig. 7, an air receiver 6| is provided having two orifices 62 each with conical bores 63 and 64. Nozzles 65 threaded into the air receiver 6| extend into the conical bores 63.-

A passage H connects the orifices 62 to the tube 55 which is connected to the cleaning fluid control valve 48. The high pressure air line 39 from the compressor is connected to the air receiver 6| at 61. The air receiver is secured by screws 58 to the housing III with the interposed gasket 59 forming an air tight enclosure and positioned so that a blast of air from the compressor will be directed against the brushes 35 as they are carried past by the endless belts 84 and 85. When the fluid control valve 48 is opened by raising the valve arm 10, cleaning fluid is drawn from the tank 40 through the line =56 and the passage H to the orifices 62. A mixture of cleaning fluid and air is then sprayed on the brushes 35.

The tube 44 leading to the filtering compartment of the tank 40, has its open end 12 flared out and positioned opposite the orifices 62 to receive the blast of air or mixture of fluid and air after it passes the brushes 35.

Air in a comparatively large volume is drawn from the floor surface into the machine through the nozzle opening between the edges I4 and Ma, then through the tube 44, the filtering compartment 5| of the tank 40 and the tube 31a leading to the inlet of the compressor.

The machine rolls along the floor or carpet on its two front wheels 13 and rear wheel 14. The machine is moved back and forth or guided along the floor by the handle assembly 15 pivoted to the machine housing at 16. The handle assembly 15 carries a motor control switch 11 and a push pull knob 18 connected to one end of a Bowden wire 19. The other end of the wire 19 is connected (not shown) to the valve arm 10 so that whenthe knob 18 is pulled out valve 48 is opened. A flexible electricaLcord 80 with an attachment plug 8| is provided for plugging into an electrical outlet.

When the machine is in use the motor runs continuously. The filtering compartment 5| of the tank 40 is partially filled with water or any other suitable filtering fluid. The cleaning fluid compartment 50 is filled preferably with soapy water or any other suitable cleaning fluid.

When used for vacuum cleaning or sweeping the button 18 is pushed in and air only is blasted against the brushes 35. The brushes sweep the floor as they travel along in opposite directions on their. respective endless belts. At the same time the inrush of air through the floor nozzle carries dust and particles of dirt into the machine. The stream of air then enters the open end of the tube 44 and passes through the filtering fluid. Dust and particles of dirt are retained or collected ,by the filtering fluid, the filtered air passing on to the compressor.

When used for washing, the operation is the same as for sweeping, except the button 18 is pulled out and a mixture of cleaning fluid and air is blasted against the brushes. This blast of cleaning fluid and air continuously cleans the brushes and wets the brushes to wash the floor as they engage the floor through the floor nozzle. The inrush of air through the floor nozzle, as in vacuum cleaning, also aids in carrying dust and particles of dirt into the compartment 5| of the machine. The position of the open end 12 of the tube 44 directly in front of the orifices 62 enables the tube 44 to effectively collect the excess spray and guide it to the filtering fiuid compartment. The inrush of air into the open end of the tube also aids in collecting and controlling the excess spray.

After a portion of the floor has been washed, the button 18 can be pushed in. Then the blast of air only will dry the brushes and the brushes in turn will dry the floor.

I claim:

1. In a floor cleaningmachine. a casing having a bottom opening, a continuously moving belt therein arranged to move past said opening, said belt, when stationary, having a portion at said opening and a second portion within said casing longitudinally remote from said opening, a fluid pressure spray means insidesaid casing also longitudinally remote from said opening and arranged and located in a manner to pressure spray fluid across said second belt portion at a point longitudinally remote from said opening and perpendicular to the line of travel of the belt and generally parallel to its surface,' both at that portion of the belt adjacent said spray means, whereby a spray of fluid directed across said second belt portion will not pass through said casing opening.

2. In a floor cleaning machine, a casing of considerable length having a transverse bottom opening whose length is much less than that 01' the casing and whose width is substantially that of the casing, a narrow endless belt in said casing having a portion exposed to the fioor at said opening, means for moving said belt continuously, a fiuid pressure spray means within said casing at a point longitudinally remote from said opening and so arranged and located with respect to said belt that a spray therefrom will be directed across said belt and perpendicular to its line of travel and generally parallel to its surface, both at that portion of the belt adjacent said spray means, and will be remote from said opening.

3. In a floor cleaning machine, a casing having a bottom opening, a continuously moving belt therein arranged to move past said opening, said belt, when stationary, having a portion at said opening and a second portion within said casing longitudinally remote from said opening, a fluid pressure spray means inside said casing also longitudinally remote from said opening and arranged and located in a manner to pressure spray fluid across said second belt portion at a point longitudinally remote from said opening and perpendicular to the line of travel of the belt and generally parallel to its surface, both at that portion of the belt adjacent said spray means, whereby a spray of fiuid directed across said second belt portion will not pass through said casing opening, the bottom opening being of a length much less than 0 that of the casing and of a width substantially REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Evans Apr. 1, 1941 

